Means for protecting the bungways of barrels



(No Model.)

M. ANTHONY. MEANS FOR PROTECTING THE BUNGWAYS 0P BARRVELS.

Patented May 31, 1892.

mmwtbz mar t (1411271072 5 Unrrnn STATES PATENT OFF CE.

MARK ANTHONY, OF BERKELEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOLDEN GATE SAFETY FAUCET COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MEANS FOR PROTECTING THE BUNGWAYS OF BARRELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,180, dated May 31, 1892.

Application filed January 16 1892. Serial No. 418.299. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARK ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Protecting the Bungways of Barrels and other Packages; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of the invention in side elevation as applied. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the bungway and the protecting device applied thereto. Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective of one form of protecting device.

This invention has relation to means for protecting the bungways of barrels, kegs, casks, or similar packages during the operation of coating their interiors with pitch or similar substances; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts as hereinafter specified.

As is well known, barrels or casks containing beer, ale, and other liquors are coated on the inside with pitch or a like substance for the purpose of preventing the liquor from coming in contact with and being flavored by the wood; also, that when barrels have been emptied on account of the yeast or sediment that will adhere thereto and which becomes sour if the barrel stands for any time it is necessary to repitch or recoat the inside before it can be again filled. This pitching or coating is usually accomplished in the following manner: The barrel is partly filled with thin pitch raised to a high temperature, and all openings are plugged or stopped up, confining the heat within the barrel, thereby forming a pressure which forces the thin pitch into the pores of the wood. After a proper length of time the plugs or stoppers are removed, the barrel allowed to become partially cool, and the surplus pitch is poured out through the bungway or other opening. The pitch employed must necessarily possess great sticking qualities in order to adhere properly to the wood, and the surplus quantity at the time that it is removed from the barrel is considerably thickened, so that it lodges in and adheres to the walls of the bungway, filling and clogging up the thread or other fastening employed for holding the bung in place. This necessitates the cleaning of the bungway or other aperture before the bung or stopper can be placed in position. In the case of metallic bungs, wherein threads or slots or other fastening devices are employed, this can only be done by reaming out the thread or other fastening ways, which is a laborious and expensive operation, inastherefore, to provide a protecting devicewhich may be removably inserted in the bungway, bushing, or female portion of a bung, through which the pitch or like substance is introduced into the barrel and the surplus removed, in order to effectually avoid clogging the bungway.

With this object in view the invention consists of a hollow sleeve, or, more properly, a spout, designed to be inserted in the bung- It then has to be taken out, 70

way or in the bushing or female portion of a bung and to be held therein by its fastenings, according to the style of bung with which it is employed, said spout fitting the bungway exactly and neatly covering its entire iirtcriog wall, and thereby protecting the same from or;

the pitch. It is necessary, however, in all cases that when in place it shall be of such a length as to extend flush with or slightly inward beyond the inner end of the bushing or bungway. If it were allowed to project in- 5 ward to any great distance, its inner exterior portion would become coated with the pitch which would get into the bun gway or bushing during removal of the spout, and difiiculty would be found in the removal.

If it were I00 left a little short of the inner end of the bungway, the pitch would have access with the inner wall of said bungway, which is exactly what is to be prevented.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the spout as adapted to one form of hung in use.

The letter A designates the spout, which is shown as formed with fastenings or lugs a a, which engage inclined or cam ways or grooves b b in the bushing or bungway B. By inserting the spout and imparting a rotary movement the lugs enter said ways or grooves and form a lock, and the spout can. only be removed by imparting a reverse rotary movement thereto. Said spout is also shown as having an annular flange O, fitting the outer end of the bushing. The inner end of the spout extends clear to the inner surface of the bushing, being usually finished in bevel form, as shown at c. The outer end of the spout is usually formed with a wrench-seat D to facilitate its insertion and removal. As above stated, however, I do not wish to confine myself to the exterior form and means for fastening shown, as this will vary with different styles of bungs.

After the barrel has been pitched and the surplus pitch removed the spout is removed, leaving the interior of the bungway perfectly clean and free.

Having described this invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

The device for protecting bungways or-similar openings in barrels, casks, kegs, or like packages during the operation of coating the interior, said device comprising a spout adapted to fit in the bungway or like opening,

and means thereon for retaining it in position, said spout being designed to extend neatly to the inner end of said bungway or opening, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARK ANTHONY. IVitnesses:

PHILIP O. MASI, GEORGE H. PARMELEE. 

